International Development Programs

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In 2005 RIAP developed and delivered 39 projects, consisting mainly of training and research activities. A total of 729 people from 12 Asia-Pacific countries were trained with the largest number of trainees, just over 500 people coming from China. A total of 20 international collaborative partnerships were established or further consolidated in the course of implementing RIAP-led activities. In 2005 RIAP also offered 24 different types of customised training courses and drew upon the expertise of 117 members of the University's academic staff and 199 professional consultants to deliver its training and research services.

General programs	East Timor	South Korea
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation	Indonesia	Thailand
Bangladesh	Japan	The Philippines
Cambodia	North Korea
People's Republic of China	Malaysia

Australia-Korea Internship Program 2008 - 4th annual intake
The AKIP is jointly funded by the Australia-Korea Foundation and the Korea-Australia Foundation, in partnership with RIAP, and offers exceptional opportunities for outstanding postgraduate and final year undergraduate students who wish to pursue a business-related career in the Asia-Pacific region. The internship program provides students scope to develop their professional and cross-cultural skills through short-term, international work experience in Seoul, South Korea. This opportunity serves not only to improve the students’ knowledge of Korean business culture but also to enhance their employment prospects and to contribute to closer Australia - Korea understanding and relations. From January until March 2008 the 4th group of students participating in the AKIP will be placed as interns in either POSCO, POSCO Research Institute, Hyundai Corporation or Hyundai Heavy Industries. Further details can be found on the AKIP website

Australia Korea Young Leaders Exchange Program
The Australia-Korea Foundation (AKF), in partnership with the Research Institute for Asia and the Pacific (RIAP) and the Korea Foundation (KF) , has initiated the Australia-Korea Young Leaders Exchange Program. The program aims to develop the leadership skills of potential and/or current leaders from both Australia and Korea, aged between 25 and 45, in specifically identified subject areas or themes.
Further details can be found on the AKYLEP website

Foundations of PET-CT
As integrated imaging technologies develop rapidly, the need for continuing education to update the knowledge and skills of nuclear medicine professionals is in much demand. The Research Institute for Asia and the Pacific (RIAP) at the University of Sydney now offers a professional development course on Positron Emission Tomography - X-ray Computerised Tomography (PET-CT) designed to integrate the most recent knowledge and skills related to safety, and technical and clinical practice.
This comprehensive 10-day training course is suitable for physicians, scientists and technologists. Through lectures, workshops and clinical sessions the course will provide essential strategies for creating quality assurance and best practice for a safe environment and an efficient clinical service. The course also promotes team coordination for effective application of the technology.
In 2008, the course will be offered twice: 30 June to 11 July and 3 to 14 November. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by completing the Application Form, attached. Deadlines are 23rd May and 19 September, respectively.
For further program details, please see the Program Flyer and Application Form.

Distance Assisted Training (DAT) program for Nuclear Medicine Technologists
In September 2007 coordination of the Distance Assisted Training (DAT) program moved from Westmead Hospital, Sydney to RIAP. Heather Patterson, DAT program developer and coordinator also joined the RIAP staff. The distance training program, designed for nuclear medicine technologists in developing countries, was initiated and developed in Australia under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna. DAT has been adopted as the national training program for technologists in many Asia and Pacific countries, Latin America and more recently introduced to North Africa and Eastern Europe. This has resulted in translations into Chinese, Spanish and French.
During 2008 RIAP will collaborate with the IAEA in the development of new training materials and web delivery to meet the needs of advancing technology in the modality of PET/CT. It is anticipated that ongoing management of the DAT program, as well as additional courses in advanced nuclear medicine technology, will be coordinated through RIAP for participants from developing countries to attend.

Australia-Korea Generational Change Conference
Held in late 2005, this conference looked at the policy implications of demographic change, ageing, work-life balance and the impact of IT on youth in both Australia and Korea. Funded by the Australia Korea Foundation, the conference saw internationally renowned experts from South Korea and Australia discuss these issues with policy makers, the diplomatic corps, and community groups.
The conference has led to a publication, Generational Change and new policy challenges - Australia and Korea, which was published and launched in October 2007.

Young Professionals Project (YPP)
YPP is a leadership and networking program created for young professionals and scholars from the corporate, government, non-government and education sectors. The theme of the project focuses on generational change in Asia and its implications on how Australia engages with the region.

Women in International Security Australia
The project aims to increase the dialogue and public involvement of women in international security debates, promote their achievements and increase their participation within the international security in Australia.

International Forum on APEC’s Economic Challenges: Breaking down the barriers for growth and integration
The forum was held on the 26th June 2007 in the context of the upcoming APEC summit held in Sydney later that year. RIAP collaborated closely with members of the University of Sydney's International Portfolio, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Austrade to organize the event. The forum aimed to provide its audience with some background on the upcoming summit and an insight into the relevance of APEC to Australia. Topics discussed ranged from APEC’s current trade and economic agendas, regional challenges faced and the significance of energy and climate change. It further involved distinguished speakers including the Australian Ambassador to APEC, Austrade and HSBC’s Chief Economists, key representatives from DFAT and the Chairman of the Australia China Business Council.


Strengthening Bond Market Development in APEC
Funded by AusAID, this project trained government officers from Indonesia, China, Vietnam and the Philippines in strengthening the functioning of bond markets. Training was conducted in Kuala Lumpur and Hanoi in collaboration with the Malaysian Securities Commission.

Good Governance for Effective Risk Pricing for APEC Economies
Funded by AusAID under the APEC Support Program, this project sought to enhance the risk management capacities of government regulators responsible for developing efficient functioning of financial and investment systems. The project complemented the work of the APEC Finance Minister’s Process and involved sixteen trainees from China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. A two-phase program was structured, delivering a range of specialized training to participants who attended courses held in Sydney and Singapore.

Good Governance for Effective Risk Pricing for APEC Economies (phase 2)
Funded by AusAID under the APEC Support Program, this project sought to enhance the risk management capacities of government regulators responsible for developing efficient functioning of financial and investment systems. The project complemented the work of the APEC Finance Minister’s Process and involved sixteen trainees from China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. A two-phase program was structured, delivering a range of specialized training to participants who attended courses held in Sydney and Singapore.

APEC Efficiency Building in Investor Protection (EBIP)
In response to the recent spate of corporate governance scandals and company collapses, RIAP delivered this training program in Sydney, Kuala Lumpur and Hanoi to 36 middle-to-senior level government officers from Indonesia, PRC, the Philippines and Vietnam. The program strengthened systems for safeguarding corporate investors by training officers of regulatory agencies to improve their public watchdog and oversight functions.

Effective Governance for Enterprise Development (EGEDI)
Funded by AusAID under the APEC Support Program, this project sought to strengthen the technical skills and administrative capacity of public sector officers responsible for managing the privatization and state enterprise reform process in Indonesia. Fifteen officers from the Directorate General of State-owned Enterprises, Ministry of Finance in Indonesia actively participated in a series of training activities held in Sydney and Jakarta.

APEC Public Sector Governance
Over 120 government officers from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam were trained under this RIAP initiated project, which was implemented in-country and in collaboration with several counterpart institutions and government agencies. Funded by AusAID under the APEC Support Program, this project sought to strengthen public sector management in the area of inter-agency coordination of policies.

APEC Master of Sustainable Development
This project piloted the development and delivery of an academic course with conjoint teaching arrangements involving the University of Sydney, the University of Queensland, the University of Malaya and the Asian Institute of Management. Funded by AusAID under the APEC Support Program, the project provided scholarships to five Asian students and facilitated a staff exchange program with the aim of promoting regional understanding in sustainable development and environmental management.

APEC Cleaner Production Strategy
With reference to the APEC Cleaner Production Strategy and with a focus on the food industry sector, this project assisted selected companies in Australia, Chile, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia to develop more ecologically efficient business management practices. The project produced case studies, teaching tools and conducted executive training seminars in four Asian countries with a focus on promoting approaches to reduce and eliminate the production of wastes generated by economic and development activities.

UNDP Gender Mainstreaming in Australia
A three weeks study tour funded by UNDP for the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Bangladesh, this program was delivered in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne for four senior government officials. The focus of the program was to develop participants' understanding of Australia's approach to gender mainstreaming.

Details coming soon

Short term Training for East Timor: Agriculture & Rural Development
Short-term training for East Timor is a series of two-weeks study tour program funded by the University of Sydney’s International Development Fund. The project seeks to provide opportunities for East Timor government and non-government officials to develop skills, build professional networks and promote opportunities for future collaboration and cooperation. The first program involved two senior academics from the National University of East Timor’s Faculty of Agricultural and Rural Development. Both academics spent time meeting with University of Sydney departments and government bodies specialising in animal husbandry and agricultural development.

Short term Training for East Timor: Environmental Management
The second of the series of short-term study tour program involved a two-week visit by the head of departments from East Timor’s environment, forestry division, fisheries and tourism. Supported by the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, the New South Wales National Parks & Wildlife and the Environmental Protection Authority, the program included a mix of mentorship, project management training and field trips. Both participants were also introduced to members of the recently established Australia – East Timor Business Council to explore commercial opportunities in the agricultural sector.

Short term Training for East Timor: Youth and Community Development
Youth and Community Development was the final installment of the short-term training series. For this study tour, RIAP invited two young community empowerment leaders from Occussi province (located in West Timor) for a three week skills building and networking program. One of the key aims of this particular program was to create opportunities for both participants to promote some of the development challenges faced by this isolated and often ignored province in East Timor. The program was extremely successful and concluded with a signed Memorandum of Understanding between South Sydney Council and the Coy Hanaf Community Organisation.

World Bank - University Administrators Program
In January/February 2008, RIAP hosted 5 Indonesian academics from Hasanuddin University, Makassar, as part of a University Administrators program. The 3 week program was funded by the World Bank's IMHERE project (Indonesia - Managing Higher Education for Relevance and Efficiency), with the aim of improving their university management systems in preparation for their change from a public to autonomous university. All delegates had been nominated as the Person in Charge of their particular field for the program.
The academics came from 4 different administration units, including Human Resources, Asset Management, Finance, Academic Information Systems and Quality Control. They met with numerous Directors and senior administrators and academics from across the University of Sydney, including the Office of the Chief Accountant, SydneyPeople and Asset Management and Services.

Asian Development Bank Engineering Courses
In 2007, RIAP delivered 3 Asian Development Bank-funded training programs under the Technological and Professional Skills Development Sector Project (TPSDP). The TPSDP was established to help provide Indonesian higher education graduates with the technological and professional skills needed for Indonesia’s economic recovery and global competitiveness. The custom-designed eight week programs in Mechanical and Chemical Engineering were developed to improve the teaching skills and technical knowledge of academics from a number of universities around Indonesia.

Tokyo University Hospital Management Program
In conjunction with the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital, in December 2007 RIAP hosted twelve doctors, nurses and administration staff from the University of Tokyo Hospital. The program aimed to give an insight into the functioning of Australian hospitals, the Australian healthcare system, how Australian universities train hospital staff, and the differences between health management policies in Australia and Japan. Delegates had the opportunity to network with the RPA’s senior medical and administrative staff, learn about the hospital’s world-class medical facilities, and interact with academics from the University of Sydney Faculty of Health.

Aid Project Management and Coordination for North Korea
This training program was specially designed to skill North Korean government officers in better administering development assistance activities and improving the coordination of aid project delivery. The program was conducted under the auspices of UNICEF with financial assistance from AusAID. An intensive three-week program of mainly practical project management techniques was delivered through a series of workshops to a small group of trainees. Training was held in Sydney and Canberra.

Statistics Software Training for North Korea
This project sought to improve the core functions of North Korean officers responsible for statistical gathering and analysis. Conducted under the auspices of UNICEF with financial assistance from AusAID, the program was delivered to a small group of trainees from the Central Bureau of Statistics. Skill development activities included software training, statistical policy planning and data management. The Australian Bureau of Statistics supported this program by providing mentorship coaching.

Details coming soon

In addition to our Australia Korea Internship Program, Australia Korea Young Leaders Exchange Program, and Generational Change Conference, RIAP has recently been involved in the following:

Internationalising Local City Councils
Funded by the Korea Local Government Centre in Sydney, this program sought to train a group of senior local government officials from Korea. The group was keen to understand how Australian local governments internationalise their activities.

Details coming soon

Details coming soon